The zoologist's guide to the galaxy : what animals on earth reveal about aliens--and ourselves / Arik Kershenbaum.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kershenbaum, Arik, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Life on other planets.

Extraterrestrial beings.

Exobiology.

Physical Description:

356 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Penguin Press, 2021.

Summary:

"From a noted Cambridge zoologist, a wildly fun and scientifically sound exploration of what alien life must be like, using universal laws that govern life on Earth and in space. Scientists are confident that life exists elsewhere in the universe. Yet rather than taking a realistic approach to what aliens might be like, we imagine that life on other planets is the stuff of science fiction. The time has come to abandon our fantasies of space invaders and movie monsters and place our expectations on solid scientific footing. But short of alien's landing in New York City, how do we know what they are like? Using his own expert understanding of life on Earth and Darwin's theory of evolution--which applies throughout the universe--Cambridge zoologist Dr. Arik Kershenbaum explains what alien life must be like: how these creatures will move, socialize, and communicate. For example, by observing fish whose electrical pulses indicate social status, we can see that other planets might allow for communication by electricity. As there was evolutionary pressure to wriggle along a sea floor, Earthling animals tend to have left/right symmetry; on planets where creatures evolved mid-air or in soupy tar they might be lacking any symmetry at all. Might there be an alien planet with supersonic animals? A moon where creatures have a language composed of smells? Will aliens scream with fear, act honestly, or have technology? The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy answers these questions using the latest science to tell the story of how life really works, on Earth and in space"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 1. Introduction

2. Form vs Function: What is Common Across Worlds?

3. What are Animals and What are Aliens?

4. Movement - Scuttling and Gliding Across Space

5. Communication Channels

6. Intelligence (Whatever That Is)

7. Sociality - Cooperation, Competition and Teatime

8. Information

A Very Ancient Commodity

9. Language - The Unique Skill

10. Artificial Intelligence-A Universe Full of Bots?

11. Humanity, As We Know It

12. Epilogue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Kershenbaum, Arik, The zoologist's guide to the galaxy

ISBN:

9781984881960

1984881965

9780241986844

0241986842

OCLC:

1159885733